I'm curious - did anyone contact you about your missed weeks? I'm in a similar situation where I missed filing for 3 weeks (totally my fault, I got a temporary gig and thought I wouldn't qualify, then found out I still could claim partial benefits). I'm scared to backfile them all at once because I've heard horror stories about people getting their claims flagged for fraud review. Did they put you through extra verification or anything?

so did the money come through??? im in a similar situation and want to know what happened with yours

One more thing - if your husband just joined the union in January, make sure he's listed as an eligible participant in the employer's Shared Work plan. Sometimes new employees aren't automatically added, and they have to be specifically included in the plan by the employer. This is especially relevant for newer union members who may not have been included in the original plan documentation.

Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their helpful advice! My husband talked to both his union rep and the company's HR department yesterday. Turns out the employer hadn't properly included him in their Shared Work certification because he was new to the union. They're fixing it now and said the claim should process within a week once the correction is submitted. We also found a local assistance program that might help with next month's rent if we need it. The waiting is still stressful, but at least we know what was causing the delay now. I'll update again once we actually see any payments come through!

I'm in the same boat right now! Filed on Sunday, still processing. Called 37 times yesterday and couldn't get through. This is so frustrating.

Update us on what happens! It would be helpful for others to know if this is becoming a systematic issue with final payments in 2025. ESD sometimes implements new verification procedures without announcing them publicly.

my fax never went thru for my hearing n the judge still let me explain my evidence over the phone so dont panic if the fax doesnt work!!

Based on your comment about the doctor's appointment - you should win this appeal. A single one-hour medical appointment does NOT make you unavailable for work under ESD rules. Make sure to emphasize that it was a one-time appointment, that you were available all other hours that week, and that you continued your job search activities. Bring your job search logs showing applications from that specific week if possible. This should be a straightforward reversal if presented clearly.

I went through EXACTLY this in January 2025. Was laid off from aerospace making $38/hr, got offered $25/hr position. I was terrified of losing benefits but also couldn't survive on that pay cut. I called ESD to ask directly (took THREE DAYS of calling to get through) and they confirmed I didn't have to take it since I was only 8 weeks into my claim and the pay was more than 10% below my previous wage. BUT!! They warned me that after 10 weeks, the threshold changes. So start applying aggressively now while you still have that protection!

Quick update on the current job search requirements while you decide: Remember that you still need to complete and document 3 job search activities each week while receiving benefits. This becomes especially important if your claim goes into adjudication - they'll review your job search logs carefully. Also, make sure you're using WorkSource resources. They can actually help you find positions more aligned with your experience and previous wage level.